BAD IDEA OF THE WEEK: Estate fights

Robin Williams' widow and his three children from previous marriages are currently engaged in a legal battle over everything from his clothing to his action figures, nearly six months after the actor and comic's death. Williams' third wife, Susan Schneider Williams, whom he married in 2011, filed court documents making her case in December, while his children – Zak, born to his first wife Valerie Velardi, and Zelda and Cody, born to second wife Marsha Garces Williams – submitted their papers in January. The New York Times reports that a number of items are at stake - including photographs, bicycles, fossils, toys, and his awards - and that the children would like to see the matter resolved "as quickly and efficiently as possible." The actor's will left his estate to his children in a trust, but it also called for the creation of provisions to benefit his wife, who has two teenage sons of her own. This included the couple's home in Tiburon, California and "the contents thereof." In her filing, Williams' wife alleged that within days of the actor's death, items were "unilaterally removed" from her home. Moreover, when she hired a lawyer, she found that home services like newspaper delivery were canceled. All of this, she claimed, has interfered with the grieving process. For their part, the children said they are "heartbroken" in their petition and underscored their feelings about Susan Williams by mentioning that she was married to the actor for "less than three years." In their opinion, the widow's filing "adds insult to terrible injury" and is a means to "prevent them from receiving what their father wanted them to receive." They allege that she "acted against [their father's] wishes by challenging the plans he so carefully made for his estate." The most hotly debated items are Williams' personal effects, including his awards – an Oscar for Good Will Hunting, six Golden Globes, two Emmys, and five Grammys. An updated version of Williams' trust said that the actor's clothing, jewelry, and photos taken prior to the actor and Susan's marriage, as well as his second home in Napa, California and its contents, should go to his children. You want to know how I see it? Susan Williams is being more than just a wicked stepmother - she is being a pig. She needs to realise that the will is supposed to benefit more than just one person. There could be one or both of Robin's ex-wives, or even some of his co-stars over the years, for instance Pam Dawber, named in the will. So please, Miss Schneider (or Williams depending on whether or not you're keeping his name), let Robin's children have their fair share of his stuff. It's only right.